Israel has announced plans to build 500 new settlement homes in occupied East Jerusalem in violation of international law. It is the first announcement of new settlement construction since the election of Donald Trump, who has claimed all of Jerusalem is part of Israel. Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti criticized the move.

Mustafa Barghouti: “The declaration of the establishment of 500 new settlement units is only the beginning of a very dangerous step to legalize and build more than 30,000 new settlement units in the area of Jerusalem. More than that, this Israeli government is planning to legalize and initiate 120 new settlements in addition to the 159 settlements.”